Agitator



May 30, 1967 c. F. MURPHY AGITATOR IIIIIIIII INVEN'IOR.

United States Patent C) 3,322,403 AGHTATOR St. Louis Park, Minn,assignor to line, Minneapolis, Minn a corporation This invention relatesto an improved liquid agitator, and more specifically, to an improvedhook agitator which may be utilized to uniformly mix paints and likeliquids, used in industrial spray painting and which includes a novelmeans for mounting and securing the agitator to the containers in whichthe paints are customarily shipped and stored.

Heretofore, there have been a number of different agitators which couldbe utilized to mix paints and other viscous liquids. However, becausemany of these agitators could not be mounted on the containers in whichthe industrial paints were .generally stored, special containers had tobe used to mix the paints. This, of course, was cumbersome and timeconsuming since it meant that the paint had to be poured into thespecial container, and often after mixing, poured into another containerfor use. Moreover, the cost of the additional containers andunproductive labor time increased the expense of the painting operation.

Moreover, in some instances, containers have been used for storingindustrial paints which have open or removable tops, and when suchcontainers are used, the agitator was either mounted or clamped directlyon the side of the container or supported above the container by aspecial frame or jig. However, even these containers are not entirelysatisfactory, particularly for use in the field, since dirt and otherparticles can easily get into the paint and since the frames or jigswere often expensive, heavy and inconvenient to use.

Furthermore, when industrial paint is shipped and stored in bulk, it is,and has long been, customary to ship and store the paint in conventional55-gall0n metal drums having two relatively small diameter bung openingsformed in the nonremovable top. Thus, in the past, when such drums havebeen used, the uniform mixing of the paint required for spray paintingcould only be obtained by emptying the paint from the drums and mixingit in another container. This, as noted above, was not only bothersomebut added to the cost of the painting operation.

Briefly and in contrast, the present invention contemplates an improvedliquid agitator which may be used to uniformly mix paints in aconventional, SS-gallon drum without requiring the use of frames or jigsof any modification of the drum. The improved agitator is mounted on thetop of the drum with the agitator paddle extending into the drum throughone of the aforementioned small diameter bung openings. The agitator isfirmly secured to the drum by novel means that cooperates with thethreads formed about the bung opening and the side of the drum. Morespecifically, the agitator includes a threaded portion, smaller in sizethan the threaded opening in the top of the drum, which easily fitswithin the threaded opening and which is moved into and clamped inengagement with the threaded opening by another part of the agitatorthat contacts the side of the drum in a manner explained more fullyhereinafter. For increased versatility, the agitator is adapted toaccommodate different sized conventional motors or power units, whichmay be quickly and easily interchanged, and for increased efiiciency theagitator paddle is statically balanced and is constructed so that, uponrotation, it imparts both horizontal and vertical mixing motion to thepaint in the drum thereby insuring uniform mixture of the paint.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide animproved agitator which may be utilized to mix liquids such as paints orthe like, in conventional containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hook agitator which maybe used to mix uniformly paint in a conventional SS-gallon metal drum.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hook agitatorincluding novel means for mounting the agitator on a conventional55-gallon drum. This novel mounting means cooperates with the relativelysmall threaded bung opening formed in the top of the drum whereby theagitator may be mounted or removed with a minimum of time, effort andskill from the drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedagitator having a threaded portion which slidably and loosely fitswithin the threaded bung opening of a conventional SS-gallon drum andwhich is urged into engagement with the threads of the threaded openingby another portion of the agitator that is adapted to engage the sidewall of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved agitatorwhich may be used to uniformly mix the paint in a conventional SS-gallondrum without requiring the use of special frames or jigs or anymodification of the drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hookagitator having a novel agitator paddle which requires a minimum powerinput and which, when rotated, imparts both horizontal and verticalmixing motion to the liquid and generates a much larger volume ofpositive agitation than heretofore possible. A related object of thisinvention is to provide an improved agitator which uses a conventionalmotor or power unit and which permits the facile interchange of themotor or power unit so as to be capable of economically and efiicientlymixing of fluids having different viscosities.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedhook agitator, which is sturdy, easy to maintain, relatively inexpensiveto manufacture, and provides excellent mixing of relatively viscousliquids, such as paints and the like.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from aconsideration of the accompanying specification, claims and drawings ofwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the improvedagitator mounted on the top of a conventional SS-gallon drum;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the main body portion of theagitator;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the resilient connectionbetween the motor drive shaft and the agitator paddle.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the resilient coupling taken alongline 44 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the agitator blade taken along line 5-5 inFIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional55-gal1on metal drum 10 having a cylindrical side wall 12 and a circulartop 14 recessed slightly below the upper end or rim 16 of the side wall12. As is customary, top 14 is integrally attached to the side wall andhas two threaded, diametrically opposite bung opening-s formed therein.However, for convenience, only the larger, two-inch diameter threadedopening 18 is shown in FIGURE 1. The bung openings of these drums arenormally closed by threaded bungs or caps, not shown, which permit thefilling, venting and storage of liquids, such as paint and the like inthe drums.

An agitator unit 22 embodying the principles of this invention is shownmounted on the top 14 of the drum 10. The unit 22 comprises a main body24 which may, for

example, be a one-piece casting and which has a central axial bore 26extending therethrough. The lower neck portion 28 of the body is smallenough to fit within the bung opening 18 and the end 30 thereof extendswithin the drum. Counter bores 32 and 34 are formed coaxial with thebore 26 in the upper neck portion 36 of the body 24, and areinterconnected by a shoulder 38. When the unit is mounted on the drum,the axis of bores 26, 32 and 34 forms an acute angle with the top of thedrum 10, and as shown in FIGURE 1, this acute angle is approximately 70.

An air motor 40 is mounted on the upper end 36 of the body 24 and may beconnected to a source of pressurized air, not shown, through a flexiblehose 42 and a quick disconnect coupling, shown at 44. The motor 40 maybe any standard rotary air motor which is capable of operating at aspeed of 300 rpm. in a full dmm of 100 cp. viscosity paint. Such a motoris the /2 horsepower rotary air motor, Graco Model No. 101-140,distributed by the Gray Company, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota.However, if more power is required, a 1 horsepower air motor such asGraco Model No. 101-388, also distributed by the Gray Company, Inc., maybe utilized. A conventional air valve, not shown, is used to start andregulate the speed of the motor and thus the agitator.

The cylindrical hub 46 of the motor 40 fits snugly within counter bore32 with end 48 thereof abutting against the shoulder 38. A plurality ofset screws 50 are spaced evenly about the outer periphery of the neckportion 36, and these set screws are used to hold the hub 46 of themotor firmly within counter bore 32. As will be apparent, the motor maybe quickly and easily removed from the agitator unit by the simpleexpedient loosening of the set screws 50 and lifting the motor off thebody 24.

The rotatable drive shaft 52 of the motor 40 extends from the end 48 ofthe housing into the counter bore 34 and is connected at its terminalend 54 to the upper plug end 56 of the tubular agitator paddle 58 bymeans of a conventional resilient coupling 62 of the type made by theLovejoy Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, Illinois, as hereinafter morefully described.

The coupling 62 includes two generally annular, metal fittings 64 and 66which are secured to the ends 54 and 56 of the paddle 58 and the shaft52, respectively, by set screws. Each of the fittings 64 and 66 includesa body portion 68 and 69 and a pair of diametrically opposite segmentsor lugs 72 and 73, respectively, which project from the body portions,in the manner shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. When assembled, the fittings 64and 66 are mated together with the ends of the lugs of one fittingadjacent the body portion of the other fitting. Moreover, as shown inFIGURE 4, a spider type, synthetic rubber and fabric gasket or washer74, formed in the general shape of a cross patee, has four segments 76which are positioned between the adjacent lugs 72 and 73 of the fittings64 and 66. The use of the washer 74 enables the coupling to transmittorque without metal to metal contact between the fittings. Moreover, inaddition to provide a resilient drive connection between the motor 40and the paddle 58, the design of the coupling aids in the speed and easein which a motor may be mounted or dismounted from the agitator unit.

A shown in FIGURE 1, the tubular paddle 58 extends through the bore 26and into the interior of the drum. In bore 26, the paddle is journaledby pair of cylindrical, porous bronze sleeve bearings 78 that are selflubricating and are arranged adjacent to the ends of the bore. Anannular thrust collar 82 is carried by the paddle and is positionedwithin the bore 34 adjacent to the shoulder interconnecting bores 26 and34. The collar 82 is secured to the paddle by a set screw therebypermitting the collar may be easily removed or replaced. In a likemanner, a slinger ring 84 is mounted on the paddle adjacent the lowerend 30 of the body 24 so as to prevent the liquid in the drum fromentering the bore 26 during mixing. Also it should be noted that thecollar 82 and ring 84 are of identical construction and may be usedinterchangeably.

As mentioned above, the paddle 58 extends into, and toward the center ofthe drum through the bung opening 18. Moreover, within the drum, thepaddle is bent slightly at 86, so that it may intersect the verticalcenter line of drum thereby insuring uniform mixing. Further, as shownin FIGURE 1, the lower portion 88 of the paddle is bent so that thepaddle assumes a generally I shape.

In addition the lower terminal end 92 of the paddle is flattened, sealedand bent thereby forming a blade 94 which is disposed at an angle ofapproximately 45 with the bottom of the drum. The construction of theblade 94 is such that when the paddle is rotated, the liquid or paint inthe drum experiences both vertical and horizontal mixing, so as toinsure a complete and thorough mixing of the paint. In other words, thepaint is not only forced to rotate about the vertical axis of the drumbut is also mixed or moved in a vertical direction due to the angle ofthe blade 94.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the lower neckportion 28 of the body 24 is generally circular in configuration and ofa size which is less than the standard two-inch internal diameter of thethreaded bung opening 18. A plurality of threads 102 are formed on asegment of the neck portion 28, generally facing away from the center ofthe drum. These threads are identical to the internal threads 104 formedabout the bung opening 18 and are designed to engage the internalthreads 104 when the portion 28 is positioned Within the opening 18 andmoved to the left, as viewed from FIG- URE 1. Moreover, it is obviousthat the threads 102 do i not have to be identical to the threads 104 solong as the threads 1102, 104 can mate or engage together. Likewise, thesize of the threaded segment can, of course, vary from, for example,50-150, and in fact the only limit on the size of the segment is thatthe neck portion 28 must be able to be easily inserted within theopening 18. Thus in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the segment shouldbe less than The body 24 also includes a pair of integral arms 106 and108 which are positioned in a plane parallel to the top 16 of the drumas shown in FIGURE 2. These arms 106 and 108 are generally L-shaped andthe ends thereof project beyond the side wall 12 with the flange or baseportions 109, 110 extending below the top edge 16 of the side wall 12.The base portions 109, 110 have threaded apertures 112 formed thereinwhich receive threaded studs 114. Each of the studs 114 has a handle orbar 116 at one end and a foot member 118 formed on the other endadjacent the side wall 12 so that the foot member 118 may engage theside wall 12 immediately below the upper rim or end 116 as shown inFIGURE 1.

The agitator unit may be mounted on a drum in the following manner: Thestuds 114 are rotated by turning the handles 116 so that the feet 118are retracted or, in other words, moved toward the bases 109, 110, andthe lower end 92 of paddle 58 is then inserted into the drum 10 throughthe bung opening 18 until the agitator is generally positioned as shownin FIGURE 1. The body 24 is then moved to the left, as in FIGURE 1, sothat the threads 102 engage the threads 104 formed about the bungopening. Handles 116 are then turned so that the stud 112 is rotatablyadvanced until the feet 118 are firmly pressed against the side wall 12.The motor 40 may be connected to a source of compressed air throughcoupling 44 and the hose 42 and the paint in container uniformly mixed.The opposite procedure is utilized to remove the agitator from the drum.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that the improved agitator ofthis invention may be used to uniformly mix paints or like liquids inthe conventional 55- gallon drums in which the paints are customarilyshipped and stored, without the need of using special jigs or frames orof modifying the drums. The resulting savings in both time andconvenience of doing this, rather than having to pour the paint intoother containers for mixing, is obvious.

Moreover, the novel means for mounting the agitator on the drums permitsthe agitator to be used in the field, and to be mounted or dismountedfrom the drums with a minimum of time, effort and skill on the part ofperson using the agitator. In addition, the agitator is easily cleanedsince only the smooth tubular paddle, and no pivoted joints, are in thepaint.

In addition, the agitator paddle insures thorough and complete mixing ofthe paint in the drum with a minimum power input because the novelconstruction of the paddle generates a large volume of positiveagitation in the paint than heretofore possible. Further, in order thatthe agitator may be also efiiciently used to mix fluids having differentviscosities, the agitator is constructed whereby the dilferent sizemotors may be used with it.

Thus, in summary, this improved agitator clearly fulfills a longstandingneed in the industry in that it provides an inexpensive means forquickly, easily and uniformly mixing industrial paint in conventional55-gallon drums.

It should be noted that various changes may be made in the arrangementand details of construction of the specific embodiment of the agitatorunit described herein without departing from the principles of theinvention. For this reason it will be understood that the scope of theinvention is limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An improved agitator particularly adapted for use with a container ofliquid having a threaded opening in the top thereof, said agitatorcomprising: a body including a portion which has a maximum transversedimension less than the diameter of the threaded opening and which isadapted to be positioned within the threaded opening and engage a partof the threads of the threaded opening and including means for engaginga side wall of the container for urging said portion of the body intoengagement with the part of the threads of the threaded opening; paddlemeans supported by said body and adapted to extend within the container;and motor means supported by said body and operatively connected withsaid paddle means for rotating said paddle Within the container.

2. The improved agitator as described in claim 1 in which: said portionof said body slidably extends within the threaded opening and hasthreads formed thereon which are adapted to engage the threads of saidthreaded opening.

3. The improved agitator as described in claim 2 in which: said portionof said body is smaller than said threaded opening; and said sideengaging means includes at least one arm extending from said body withthe terminal end thereof adapted to firmly engage the side of thecontainer and to clamp the threads on said portion of said body intoengagement with the threads of said threaded opening.

4. The improved agitator as described in claim 3 in which: said paddlemeans comprises a tubular member which extends into said containerthrough said threaded opening; said tubular member being supported atone end by said body and having the other end formed in substantially aJ configuration.

5. The improved agitator as described in claim 4 in which: the terminalportion of the other end of said tubular member is a flat blade which isdisposed at an angle to the bottom of the container whereby rotation ofsaid tubular member causes the liquid in the container to be mixed bothhorizontally and vertically.

6. The improved agitator as described in claim 5 in which said bladeforms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the bottom of thecontainer.

7. The improved agitator, as described in claim 4, in which: a resilientcoupling interconnects said one end of said tubular member with saidmotor means; and said motor means includes a motor that is removablymounted on said body. I

8. The improved agitator as described in claim 3 in which: said arm isintegral with said body and is adapted to project beyond the side of thecontainer with the terminal end of said arm extending downwardly belowthe upper edge of the side; said terminal end carrying means forengaging the side of said container.

9. The improved agitator as described in claim 8 in which said lastmentioned means includes a threaded stud having a foot portion at oneend thereof which is adapted to engage the side of said container uponrotation of said stud in one direction and to move away from the side ofsaid container upon rotation of said stud in the opposite direction.

10. The improved agitator as described in claim 1 in which: said body ismounted on a conventional 55-gallon drum having at least oneeccentrically positioned, relatively small diameter threaded bungopening formed in its top; said body including a portion which extendswithin said threaded opening and has threads formed thereon through asegment Which extends through an are having an extent of from 50 to thatengage the threads of said threaded opening; said body also including atleast one integral arm which projects radially outwardly beyond the sideof said drum and which has a terminal end that extends downwardly belowthe upper edge of the side of said drum; said terminal end of said armcarrying means for selectively engaging the side of said drum and urgingthe threaded portion of said body into engagement with the threads ofsaid threaded opening whereby said agitator may be securely mounted onsaid drum; and in which said paddle means includes a statically balancedtubular member which extends through said threaded opening and into theinterior of said drum with one end of said tubular member beingconnected to an air motor means carried by said body and the other endconsisting of a blade whereby rotation of said tubular member causes theliquid in said drum to be mixed both horizontally and vertically.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,391 11/1926 Hand et al259107 2,073,925 3/1937 Farrington 259l07 2,162,400 6/1939 Heath 2591082,794,627 6/1957 Rodwick 259-108 2,854,202 9/1958 Blume et a1 2591073,132,850 5/1964 Puchalski 259108 3,223,389 12/1965 Simmonds 259-106IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner,

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED AGITATOR PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A CONTAINER OFLIQUID HAVING A THREADED OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF, SAID AGITATORCOMPRISING: A BODY INCLUD ING A PORTION WHICH HAS A MAXIMUM TRANSVERSEDIMENSION LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE THREADED OPENING AND WHICH ISADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED WITHIN THE THREADED OPENING AND ENGAGE A PARTOF THE THREADS OF THE THREADED OPENING AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR ENGAGINGA SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER FOR URGING SAID PORTION OF THE BODY INTOENGAGEMENT WITH THE PART OF THE THREADS OF THE THREADED OPENING; PADDLEMEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND WITHIN THE CONTAINER;AND MOTOR MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITHSAID PADDLE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID PADDLE WITHIN THE CONTAINER.